Abstract

We describe methodologies for the generation and screening of combinatorial libraries of electrocatalyst materials for fuel cell applications, generated by cosputtering of three elements onto a Si substrate coated with a Ta adhesion underlayer. Screening was carried out via a fluorescence assay as well as by scanning electrochemical microscopy. Whereas the former provided rapid qualitative screening with limited spatial resolution, the latter provided high spatial resolution. The fluorescence screening method was tested on Pt, PtBi, PtPb, and PtRu nanoparticles, while both methods were tested on a film containing a Pt–Bi–Pb ternary composition spread.

Received 17 December 2005Accepted 10 April 2006Published online 26 May 2006

Acknowledgments:

The authors would like to thank Maura Weathers with her assistance in using GADDS and John Hunt in his assistance with the electron microprobe and SEM. The authors thank the Cornell Center for Materials Research for their maintenance of GADDS, microprobe, SEM, and the profilometer. This work is supported through the Department of Energy, Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER46072, and the National Science Foundation. One of the authors (D.R.) acknowledges NSERC for a postdoctoral fellowship.